The site of the Victorian Not For Profit’s redevelopment 80km west of Melbourne, which was acquired in 2021, is being prepared for construction this week as the appointment of experienced aged care builder SJ Higgins was announced.
“The team at SJ Higgins Group is thrilled to be starting this new project and partnership, and we are delighted to be able to bring our Ballan aged care upgrade project to life,” said James Cramond, mecwacare’s Executive General Manager – Strategy and Transformation.
Full construction of the 60-bed home is set to begin in January, with the project expected to be completed by mid-2026. The home will feature three courtyards, two outdoor dining areas, an outdoor deck area, cinema, hair salon, library, cafe, lounge and dining area.
The site is one of two acquired in the 2021 acquisition of Ballan Health, a hub that as well as two aged care homes and a retirement village, included a GP clinic, gym, pool, and allied health centre.
Across Victoria, mecwacare has 19 aged care homes, six retirement villages, three affordable housing sites, five community and disability service centres, and four opportunity shops. The Not For Profit employs 3,000 staff and cares for 20,000 people.
The group is pursing a growth strategy focused on growing services for vulnerable community members in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. In January 2024, it acquired its fourth aged care homes from Royal Freemasons. Construction of its six-storey aged care home John Hood Terrace, in Richmond, Melbourne, is expected to be completed in late 2025.
Earlier this month, we reported SJ Higgins had also been appointed to build the Victorian Government's $41.1 million aged care development in Cohuna, 274km north of Melbourne.
